Abrading-machine.



No. 645,578. Patented Mar. 20, i900.

J. n. THOMAS.

ABRADING MACHINE.-

(Application filed m 1, 1 899.)

5 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

M'zzzesses we "cams PETERS c0 movo-uruofl WASHINGTON, D c.

Patented Mar. 20, I900.

J. n. THOMAS. ABRADING MACIHNE.

(Application filed May 1, 1899.)

5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

M'Zhessas;

m: NORRIS wins :0, PNOYO-LITHQ. wAsnmswm D c.

' Patented Mar. 20, I900. .1. n. THOMAS.

ABRADING MACHINE.

(Application filed May 1, 1899.)

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-$heet 3.

5 Sheets-Sheet .4.

Patented Mar. 20, I900.

J. R. THOMAS.

ABRADING MACHINE.

(Apphcatlon filed May 1, 18 99 Tu: Nonms PETERS co. PHOTQ-LITHD,,WASHINGYON. D c.

(No Model.)

No. 645,578. Patented Mar. 20, 19.00.

- J. n. THOMAS,- I

ABRADI'NG MACHINE.

(Application filed May 1,1899.)

5 Sheets-Sheat 5.

(No Model.)

[\llll Mikes-5 e5 NlTED STATES ATENT Fries.

JOHN RlOKARD THOMAS, on CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE .1. A;

FAY a EGAN COMPANY, on SAME PLACE.

ABRADING- SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 645,578,dated March 20, 1906.

I Application filed May 1, 1899. Serial No. 715,182- (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN RICKARD THOMAS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio,have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Abrading-Machines,of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates particularly to that class of abrading-mach-inesadapted to abrade 0r polish the surface of wood and other surfaces.

My invention consists in providing a machine of the character describeddivided into a number of horizontal parts, the lower part of which isadapted to carry the abrading or polishing cylinders, the middle sectionfor carrying the lower feed-rolls, and the upper section carrying theupper feed-rolls, together with the pressure devices for holding thestock to the cylinders, all connected by an adj usting and partingdevice which throughout a certain part of its movement is arranged toadjust the mechanism contained in the upper section with relation to themechanism of the middle section and which in the further movement of theadjusting mechanism is adapted to automatically take the middle sectionwith it to expose the abrading-cylinders for manipulation or treatment.

My invention consists, further, in providin g a new and improved meansfor oscillating the abrading or polishing cylinders from anoscillatoushaft whose axis of rotation is in substantially the sameplane as the axis of rotation of the cylinders themselves and inproviding a means for oscillating the abradingcylinders whereby thepower for oscillation may be applied in substantial line with the axisof rotation of the abrading or polishing cylinders from an oscillatingdevice in substantially the same plane.

My invention consists, further, in so constructing an abrading orpolishing machine that the feed-rolls and the pressure-rolls above thepolishing-cylinders may be rotated with the same peripheral speed toinsure smoothness of work and to allow very thin pieces of stock, suchas veneers and light material, to be passed through the machine and givea high finish Without danger of injury to orbreakage of the stock, anoperation heretofore notsuccessfully accomplished.

My invention consists, further, in providing a machine of the characterdescribed with a supplemental table and adjustments therefor, whereby,preferably, the first cylinder of the series in the machine may takegreater or less abrasion off the stock, according to the adjustment ofthe table; and my invention consists, further, in the parts and in theconstruction, arrangement, and combinations of parts hereinafter morefully described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved device;Fig. 2 a plan view, and Fig. 3 an end elevation, of the same. Fig. 4 isa longitudinal section taken on the line a; w of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is adetail showing an alternative form for connecting the oscillating withthe cylinder shaft. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the oscillator. Fig. 7is a plan view showing the friction-gear arran gement foroperating thescrew-shafts separating the frame-sections, indicating the frame indotted lines; and Fig. Sis an end elevation of the same. Fig. 9 is asideelevation of the lever for sliding the friction-gear sleeve, and Figs.10 and 11 are details in section, showing the adjustment for thepressureroll bearings.

A represents the frame of the machine, di-

vided, preferably, on horizontal lines into three sections B G D,corresponding, respectively, to the lower, middle, and top sections ofthe frame. Preferably the lower section has mounted therein a shaft 1,(see Figs. 1, 3, 4., 7, and 8,) having a sleeve 2 splined thereon, thelatter carrying friction-gears 3 4 and collars 5 6. The sleeve 2, withthe friction-gears 3 and 4 thereon, rotates with the shaft 1, but hasslidable connection therewith by means of a spline 36, located betweenthe sleeve and shaft. A rock-shaft 7 is also journaled in the lowersection of the frame, having an arm 8 secured thereto by a bolt 37 andextending therefrom and connecting with a lever 9, which may carry agrip 10 and be set on a stop 11 on the frame in a notch 12 on thelever-to normally hold the frictions out of contact with a livefriction-gear hereinafter de- ICO scribed. The rock-shaft 7 also carriesan arm 13, secured thereto by a bolt 38. The arm 13 is formedfork-shaped at its upper end and is provided with antifriction-rollers14 14, taking between the collars 5 and 6 and adapted to throw thefrictions 3 and 4 into contact with a live friction-gear 15 on a shaft16, mounted in the lower part of the frame and receiving motion from anysuitable source, as by means of apulley 39. Both the arm 8, connectingwith the lever 9 and grip 10, and the arm 13 are mountedon the shaft 7,which extends transversely of the shaft 1. The arm 8 connects with theshaft 7 at a point close to the shaft 1 and then curves outwardlytowardthe frame, crossing the section-line a; 00, Fig. 3, and is thereforeshown broken in Fig 4. Either friction-gear may be thrown into contactwith the live friction-gear or both thrown out of contact, according tothe throw of the lever 9. The shaft 1 may also be turned by a hand-wheel35 thereon. The shaft 1 carries worm -wheels 17 18, adapted to mesh withworms 19 20 on shafts 21 22, mounted in the base of the frame. Theshafts 21 22 carry bevel-gears 23 24, meshing with bevel-gears 25 26,journaled in bearings 27 28 in the base of the frame. The bevel-gears 2526 I prefer to internally thread to receive the screw shanks or shafts29, which latter are provided with contact connections for makingcontact with the middle section between the screwshafts and the middlesection, which contact connection I have shown in the form of abutmentsor collars 30. These screw-shafts are preferably threaded from at ornear the collars to the end where they take through the threaded gears.At or near their other end they may be secured, preferably rigidly, tothe upper section of the frame-as, for instance, by being provided witha reduced shank 31, taking through apertures in the upper section andsecured between shoulders 32 and nuts 33 and washers 34. Above thecollars preferably to their meeting point with the upper section, thescrew-shafts 29 are provided with flush sides adapted to slide inapertures in the middle section of the frame. These apertures I preferto make in the shape of bearings, so that the shaft may have a close fittherein. I prefer to make the shafts nonrotatable, giving the rotationto the gears 25 26. The screw-shafts afford a speedy, delicate, andpositive adjustment for the upper section of the frame carrying theupper line of feed-rolls and pressure devices above thepolishing-cylinders, adjusting them simultaneously with relation to thelower feedingrolls and abrading-cylinders. This adjustment is allowedfrom the minimum to the greatest thickness of stock that it may bedesired to work. If it be desired to expose the abrading-cylinders ormechanism contained in the lower part of the frame for the purpose ofexamination of the abrading cylinders, their removal, the renewal of theabrading material thereon, or for other purposes, the

raising of the screw-shaft is continued, when the collars 30 willsimultaneously abut against adjustment of the feeding and pressuredevices throughout a certain part of their movement and automaticallyserve as a raising and lowering device for the middle section and theexposing of the polishing-cylinders throughout another part of theirmovement.

Independent adjustment may be given the upper line of feed-rolls, as bymeans of setnuts 41 and jam-nuts 42, taking about shanks 43, connectingwith the roller bearings. Springs 44, adjusted by means of set-bolts 45and jam-nuts 46, may yieldingly hold the rolls up to their work.Transverse shafts 47, having hand-wheels 48, are provided with worms 49,meshing with worm-wheels 50, slidably secured to screw-shafts 51,screwing into lugs 52 on bearings for the press 11 re-rolls above thecylinders. (See Fig.10.) The screw-shaft51is provided with a collar 160,normally seated at the bottom of a recess 161 in the upper framesection.The worms 49 may be releasably secured to the shafts for givingindependent or simultaneous adjustment to the ends of thepressure-rolls, as by means of a bolt 53, passing through an extendedhub on the worm 49, as shown in Fig. 11. The bolt on either worm of agiven shaft may secure the worm rigidly to the shaft or be slightlyunscrewed to allow the worm to slip rotatably on the shaft. Thepressure-roll bearings may also have springs 44 for yieldingly holdingthem in normal position, set'bolts 45, having jamnuts 46, being providedfor adjusting the tension of the springs. Awasher 54 is interposedbetween the spring and set-bolt. The yield of the pressure-roll isslight. When it yields, it slightly raises the screw-shaft 51 within theworm-wheel 50. The latter is splined to the screw-shaft bya spline 162.The lower feedrolls are mounted on slides 55, resting on bolts 56,taking through lugs 57 in the frame of the machine and having jam-nuts58. The slide may be secured by bolts 59 taking into the middle sectionof the frame through slots 60 in the slides.

I have preferred to show my device as embracing a series of threeabrading or polishing cylinders, (designated as 61, 62, and 63,) each ofwhich may be provided with a suitable pulley preferably located to oneside of the machine; but one or more of the pulleys may be located atthe other side of the machine, as hereinafter explained. The device, asshown, also embraces eight feeding-rolls-- ployed.

four in the bed, as at 64, 65, 66, and 67,'representing the lower rolls,and four above the bed, as at 68, 69, 70, and 71, representing the upperrolls. The pressure-rolls I have designated by the'numerals 72, 73, and74. The lower line of feed-rolls 64, 65, 66, and 67 are preferablycarried by the middle and the upper line of feed-rolls and thepressure-rolls by the top section of the frame. Itis obvious that agreater or aless number of feeding-rolls or abrading or polishingcylinders may be em I have so mounted and geared the feeding-rolls andthe pressure-rolls above the cylinders as to cause them to rotate withthe same peripheral speed and causing the pres sure-rolls to alsoperform the function of feedrolls, giving to the machine great ease ofoperation, producing smoother work and a higher polish, and allowingvery thin and curly stock to be polished, suchas veneers and other thinstock.

In attempting to polish stock of the latter class in constructionsheretofore employed it has been found that the stock will buckle andbreak. I have therefore devised my improved machine, in which this classof work is accomplished to great perfection. The action is such as tocause the stock to be advanced by a series of propelling agencies, whichin my construction include the pressure-rolls, advancing at a uniformspeed. Power for the feeding agencies is derived'from a pulley on theshaft 16, which transmits motion to a pulley 76 on a shaft 77, alsocarrying a pulley 78, from which motion is transmitted to a pulley 79 ona shaft 80. The shaft 80 carries a pinion 81, which meshes with a gear82 on a shaft 83, which also carries a pinion 84 at its opposite end,meshing with a gear 85 on a stud 86, which latter carries a pinion' 87andmeshes with a gear 88 on a stud 90. The gear 88 meshes with a gear 91on the lower infeeding-roll. The lower infeedingroll also carries a gear92 at its opposite end. Each of the lower rolls is adapted to carry agear 92, the series being connected by idlerpinions 93. Each of theupper feed-rolls and the pressure-rolls is provided with gears 94,connected by idler-pinions 95. The gear 88 may also mesh with a gear 97,mounted in an expansion device 98. The gear 97 in turn meshes with agear 99 on the shaft of the first infeeding upper roll. In theconstruction shown I have shown the lower feed-rolls as ofrelatively-smaller diameter than the upper feed-rolls, so as to bringthe abrading or polishing cylinders together more closely, but havecompensated for the difference in diameter of the rolls by the relativedifferent diameters of the driving-gear 91 for the lower train offeed-rolls and the connecting-gears 97 and 98 for the upper line offeed-rolls and the pressure-rolls, giving to the latter arelatively-slower rotation owing to their larger diameter, but givingthe upper and the lower line of feed-rolls, as well as thepressure-rolls, the same peripheral speed.

The abrading or polishing cylinders are preferably mounted in the baseof the frame on slides 102, (see Fig. 1,) adjustable in ways 103 bymeans of screw-shafts 104, mounted in bearings in the lower section andconnected with shafts 106. (See Fig. 4.) The shaft 106 has worm-wheels107, with which worms 108 on shafts 109 mesh. The shafts 109 havehand-wheels 110 and turn in bearings 111.

At the infeeding end of the machine in advance of the firstpolishing-cylinder I prefer to make the table vertically adjustable inparallel lines, forming a supplemental infeeding-table 112 with aninfeeding-roll adjustably journaled therein. (See Fig. 4.) This tableextends transversely of the machine, and at or near each end isadjustable on slides 115 in ways 116, preferably on the inside of themiddle section of the frame. A screw-shaft 117 is stationarily journaledin a lug 118 on the frame and takes into a threaded aperture 119 on theslide. The screw-shaft has a gear 120 thereon, which meshes with asimilar gear 121 on a transverse shaft 122, journaled in the middlesection of the frame and operated by a hand-Wheel 123. (See Fig. 3.) Theinfeeding-roll is mounted in the supplemental table. It receives avertical ad justment through an adj lISlJlllg-SGI'GW 124 with acollar125, resting on the frame of the table and screw-threaded into anaperture 126 in the bearing of the roll and held in place by means ofset and jam nuts 127 128. (See Fig. 4.) v

The abrading or polishing cylinders 61, 62, and 63 are mounted on shafts131 in bearings 132. The shafts also carry bearings 134,

adapted to take between collars 135 136.

(See Fig. 2.) The collar 135 is preferably rigidly secured to the shaft;Set and jam nuts 137 138 take over the end of the shaft for giving thenecessary adjustment between the collars for the bearing and to take upwear. The bearings 134 may also have studs 139 thereon, preferably inthe horizontal plane of the axis of rotation of the cylinder-shaft.

(See Fig. 6.) Arms 141 of an oscillator-yoke 142 are pivoted to thestuds and extend in substantial axial line with the cylinder. Anoscillator-shaft 143 is journaled in bearings 144 in the base-section ofthe frame, and it has its axis of rotation in substantially thehorizontalplane of the axis of rotation of the polishing-cylinders. Itreceives its rotation from a shaft 155, (see Figs. 1, 2, and 3,)journaled in bearings 156, carrying a pulley 157, connecting with apulley 158 on the shaft 16. The shaft 143 and the shaft 155 areconnected by gears 145 146. The oscillator-shaft carries journals 147for bearings 148 in the oscillator-yokes, which journals are slightlyeccentric to the shaft and impart avibration or oscillating movement tothe cylinders, the latter preferably having smooth journals 132 to allowtheir oscillation. The line of thrust and pull on the cylinder-shafts isin substantial line with the axis of rotation of the shafts and impartsto the shafts a direct force in that line against a series of rotatingparts, relieving the bearings in which the cylinders are mounted of allside strain or thrust and insuring apositive, easily-operating,substantial, direct-acting device and movement for the vibration oroscillation of the abrading or polishing cylinders, relieved of pressurethat would tend to bind the cylinders in their bearings or relation totheir work. In practice the pulleys for operating thepolishing-cylinders are usually attached to their shafts on the endopposite to the oscillator-bearings and receive their motion frompulleys on a detached counter-shaft'suitably located. It is sometimesdesired, however, to have one of the pulleys on the same side to whichthe oscillator-bearing is attached. I then prefer to employ theoscillator-bearing 151, suitably adj ustably located on the shaft andheld against endwise movement thereon. The bearing has ways 152 toaccommodate a slide 153, receiving a journal 154, eccentrically mountedat the end of the oscillator-shaft 143 and imparting oscillating orvibrating movement to the cylinder-shaft from the oscillatorshaftrotating in the same horizontal plane and allowing a pulley, as at 159,to be used on the same side as the oscillator.

It is obvious that changes may be made in the construction of my devicewithout departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim-- 1. In an abrading-1nachine, a main frame comprising aplurality of sections, a top section carrying the upper line offeed-rolls, a middle section carrying the lower line of feedrolls, and alower section carrying the abrading cylinder or cylinders, incombination with a plurality of screws geared togetherand connecting thelower with the top section, and operating simultaneously for firstadjusting the top section for different thicknesses of stock to beworked, and, second, with a contact connection on each screw between thescrew and the middle section for making contact connection with themiddle section for raising the middle section to expose the cylinder orcylinders without intermediate retrograde movement of the screws betweenthe completion of the adjustment for thickness of stock, and the raisingof the middle section, substantially as described.

2. In an abrading-machine, a three-part abrading-machine frame, thelower part carrying the bearings for the abrading cylinder or cylinders,the middle carrying the table and the lower line of feed-rolls, and thetop carrying the upper line of feed-rolls, in combination with a seriesof adj ustin g-screws connecting the lower with the top section, andgeared to one of the frame parts, and movable longitudinally withrelation to another frame part for part of their length, and a contactconnection on each of the screws between the screw and the latter partfor making contact connection therewith and carrying the middle framepart with them in their further movement, constructed and arranged forfirst adjusting the top frame part with relation to the middle framepart for feeding different thicknesses of stock, and, second, forraising the middle frame part with the top frame part by the contactconnection on each screw making contact connection with that other framepart toexpose the cylinder or cylinders without intermediate retrogrademovement of the screws between the completion of the adjustment forthickness of stock and the raising of the middle section, substantiallyas described.

3. In an abrading-machine, the combination of a main frame divided intoa plurality of sections, an upper section carrying an upper line offeed-rolls, a middle section carrying a lower line of feed-rolls, and alower sec tion carrying an abrading cylinder or cylinders, a series ofadjusting-screws stationarily secured to the upper section, a part ofthe shanks of same moving past the middle sec tion, leaving the middlesection at rest, a threaded gear for each of the screws j ournaled inthe lower section, screw-threads on the screws throughout another partof their length opposite the lower section, and a contact connection oneach of the screws for the middle section between each screw and themiddle section for making vertical contact connection with the latterand raising the same with the screws simultaneously movinglongitudinally with relation to the lower section, substantially asdescribed.

4. In an abrading-machine, the combination of a seriesofabrading-cylinders, a series of feed-rolls, and a series of power-drivenpressure-rolls above the abrading-cylinders, with gearing or similarmeans for positively driving the feed-rolls and the pressure-rollssimultaneously at the same peripheral speed and in the same direction attheir contactpoint with the stock, substantially as described.

5. In an abrading-machine, comprising one or more abrading-cylinders,the combination of geared feed-rolls for each side of eachabrading-cylinder positively revolving at a uniform peripheral speed,with a geared pressure-roll above each abrading-cylinder positively andsimultaneously revolving at the same peripheral speed and in the samedirection at their contact-point with the stock, substantially asdescribed.

6. In an abrading-machine, the combination of a series ofabrading-cylinders, a lower feed-roll and an upper feed-roll operatingbetween each two adjacent abrading-cylinders, and a lower feed-roll andan upper feed-roll operating at each end of the series ofabrading-cylinders, a pressure-roll above each abrading-cylinder, ashaft for each roll, gearing for operating the lower feed-rolls, with agear attached to the shaft of each upper feed- ICC two adjacent gears onthe upper feed-roll and pr'essureroll shafts and meshing therewith,constructed and arranged for positively driving the feed-rolls and thepressure-rolls simultaneously at the same peripheral speed and in thesame direction at their contactpoint with the stock, substantially asdescribed.

7. In an abrading-machine, thecombination of one or moreabrading-cylinders,a table, feeding-rolls adjustable with relation tothe table, a secondary table at the feeding-in end of the machine, andadjusting-screws or similar means for vertically adjusting the secondarytable with relation to the infeeding-cylinder in parallel verticallines, substantially as described.

8. In an abrading-machine, the combination of one or moreabrading-cylinders,a table, a feeding roll or rolls adjustable withrelation to the table, an infeeding-table, ascrew-shaft or similar meansfor vertically adjusting the latter with relation to theinfeeding-cylind'er, an infeeding-roll mounted in the infeedingtable,and vertical adjustmentin the infeeding-table for the latter roll,substantially as described.

9. In an abrading-machine, one or more abrading-cylinders, incombination with feedrolls to each side of each cylinder, and apressure-roll above each cylinder, with gearing for driving thefeed-rolls and the pressure roll or rolls at the same peripheral speed,a

table through which the abrading cylinder or cylinders may project forabrading the stock passing over the table, and an infeeding-tablevertically adjustable with relation to the former table, substantiallyas described.

10. In an abrading-machine, one or more abrading-cylinders, incombination with feedrolls to each side of each cylinder, and apressure-roll above each cylinder, with gearing for driving thefeed-rolls and the pressure roll or rolls at the same peripheral speed,a table through which the abrading cylinder or cylinders may project forabrading the stock passing over the table, an infeeding-table verticallyadjustable with relation to the former table, an infeeding-roll mountedin and adjustable with the infeeding-table, and independent verticaladjustment for the roll, with relation to the latter table,substantially as described.

11. In an abrading-machine, the combination of one or moreabrading-cylinders, a shaft for each, an oscillator-shaft located beyondthe end of the abradingcylinder shaft or shafts, the axes of the severalshafts being in substantially the same plane, an additionalabrading-cylinder, a shaft therefor extending beyond the end of theoscillator-shaft and having its axis in substantially the same plane, aneccentric on the oscillator-shaft for each abrading-cylinder shaft, anda connec-- 153, and the journal 154 received thereby and eccentricallymounted at the end of the oscillator-shaft, constructed and arrangedsubstantially as and for the purpose specified.

13. In an abrading-machine, the combination of one or moreabrading-cylinders, with driven feed-rolls and a driven pressure-rollfor each cylinder, means for positively rotating the driven feed-rollsand the driven pressure roll or rolls at the same peripheral speed, anoscillator-shaft extending at substantially right angles to the axis ofthe abrading cylinder or cylinders and rotating in substantially theplane of the axial line thereof, and an oscillator device for thecylinder or cylinders extending in substantially the axial line of thelatter, substantially as described.

14. In an abrading-machine, the combina-- .tion of one or more abradingcylinders, with driven feed-rolls and a driven pressure-roll for eachcylinder, means for rotating the rolls at the same peripheral speed, anadjustable infeeding-table, and an oscillator device for each of thecylinders extending in substan tially the axial line thereof,substantially as described.

15. In an abrading-machine, the combination of one or moreabrading-cylinders, with driven feed-rolls and a driven pressure-rollfor each cylinder, means for rotating the rolls at the same peripheralspeed, an adjustable 'infeeding-table, an infeeding-roll adjustabletherewith and independently thereof, and an oscillator device for eachof the cylinders extending in substantially the axial line there of,substantially as described.

JOHN RIOKARD THOMAS.

Witnesses:

THOMAS P. EGAN, PARKE S. JOHNSON.

ICC)

